Tourists will no longer need to be vaccinated in order to visit New Zealand, as the country scraps its remaining Covid rules.
“Today marks a milestone in our response,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, as she announced the changes on Monday (September 12).
“Finally, rather than feeling that Covid dictates what happens to us, our lives, and our futures, we take back control,” she said. In the final return to normality people will no longer be required to wear masks in supermarkets or on public transport, including planes. The last remaining vaccine mandates – on health care workers – will also end, as will mandatory tests on arrival to the country.
Earlier this year, on May 1, after two years of being the poster child of Covid border closures, New Zealand reopened to fully vaccinated holidaymakers from 60 nations, including the UK. Since, vaccinated Britons and children under 17 have been able to visit the country without needing to isolate on arrival. However, they have been required to take three Covid tests: one before departure (PCR, LAMP or rapid antigen), another rapid antigen test on arrival, and a third on day five or six. As rules are scrapped testing on arrival will no longer be mandatory, but will be recommended.
“This will be the first summer in three years where there won’t be the question of what we will and what won’t be cancelled because of Covid cases,” said Ardern. “Where our borders are fully reopened and there isn’t a fear of being separated or stranded. The summer where we have certainty.”
From island vineyard tours to stays in lakeside luxury lodges and even crowd-free skiing, here are 20 brilliant ways to experience New Zealand this year.
20 reasons to visit New Zealand
Heli hike on nice ice
Most classic New Zealand itineraries incorporate the Franz Josef glacier – it’s impressive to look up at this long, sparkling tongue that slips from the Southern Alps. But skimming over it by chopper, landing high up on the ice and cramponing across the glacier’s constantly shifting surface is even better. Expert guides will lead you over new crevasses, into caves and through dazzling blue-ice tunnels. Ice wall climbing, with expert tuition, is possible too.
A 19-night Best of New Zealand self-drive with Trailfinders (020 7938 0271; trailfinders.com) costs from around £3,150pp including flights; a Franz Josef Heli-hike costs around £255pp. Heli ice climbs cost from £322 (franzjosefglacier.com).
